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Zambia

Evaluating the livelihood outcomes of the solar-powered water system on drought resilience in Hanzila Village, Southern Zambia

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Citation

Mweemba, C. E.; Amarnath, G.; van Koppen, B. 2024. Evaluating the livelihood outcomes of the solar-powered water system on drought resilience in Hanzila Village, Southern Zambia. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience. 59p.

1. Introduction

Enhancing Community Climate Resilience through Water Infrastructural Development

Global repercussions of climate change have continued to manifest throughout the world. There is information on seasons of drought existence, periods of flooding and higher temperatures characterised by wide occurrence and severity (Nicholls et al. 2012; Seneviratne et al. 2021). Global warming is caused by climate change, which affects both the structure of natural systems and human societies. Climate change causes changes in the regimes of various regions, creating more disasters such as droughts, high temperatures and floods, which are becoming increasingly frequent (Mukheibir and Ziervogel 2007, IPCC 2021). These events cause extreme hardship and even death, especially for the most affected groups (IPCC 2014). Low-income rural people face the effects of climate change most severely. Still, they have a very small capacity to adjust, primarily owing to the limited amount of money to adapt to climate change (IPCC 2014, World Bank 2013). Significant droughts lessen people’s ability to grow crops to sustain and support a livelihood leading to poverty that compels people to migrate. Farmers, pastoralists and rural households who practice rain-fed farming are at a greater risk because of rainfall dependency, which increases the effects of drought (FAO 2016, World Bank 2013). As lack of water worsens during drought conditions, the availability of safe and clean drinking water, toilets or latrines, and hygienic practices are also severely affected, increasing the health risks among the already vulnerable populations, in particular women and children (UNICEF and WHO, 2019).

The challenges faced in this context require both immediate response measures during the climate emergency and long-term measures to improve resilience and maximise adaptability to the situation at hand.Community-based initiatives, including the establishment of solar-powered boreholes as sustainable water source development, can be helpful in averting the problems of climate-induced water shortage. These technologies enable the population to access water and eliminate the need to rely on erratic rainfall, thus increasing the community's ability to adapt to climate change.

Increased efficiency of water management practices is vital in increasing climate resilience in rural areas as it provides for the economy, sustains ecosystems and makes communities less vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, including droughts, floods and extreme weather events (GIZ 2023). The vulnerability of water resources and a significant challenge for all skilled forward-looking residents carries the focus in the expansive water management strategy for radical change highlighted even by global committees including United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) 27 (CRFS Alliance 2022).

Most regions in the Southern African countries, Zambia included, have been experiencing persistent droughts. Droughts have impacted the availability of water resources to meet people’s water needs. Yet, having adequate access to water resources is a lifeline for people, particularly in rural communities where water is needed for drinking and other domestic purposes, as well as water required for crop and livestock watering during dry seasons (GIZ 2023). Having regular water supplies enables farmers to keep their crops and livestock thriving during drought periods, which in turn reduces people’s susceptibility to food shortages. In addition, adequate moisture in fields through water harvesting or drip irrigation and the practice of agroforestry enable rural people to adapt to new climatic situations and use water in a more efficient manner (Ray and Majumder 2024).

Yet, countries like Zambia continue to experience reduced availability of water over time mainly for drinking, other domestic uses, animals, hygiene and sanitation, agriculture, construction, and other commercial purposes (Delia 2022, Patel et al. 2015, WHO-UNICEF 2015). These challenges affect the rural population more because of the limited availability of water infrastructure needed to access water for multiple uses. As a result, rural communities would resort to accessing water from open scoop holes and streams despite such sources being unclean and may pose health risks to water users (Mweemba et al. 2023a).

However, the geology and landscape of some rural parts also contribute to this list's many problems. Some communities are located in areas that are pretty distant from the primary water supply sources. This means people in such locations must cover long distances to access water. Covering long distances takes time that could have been allocated to other livelihood activities. In addition, it also requires a lot of energy from people to carry heavy loads of water from distant sources. As a result, the amount of water that can be transported back home is significantly reduced due to the time and energy factor (Mweemba et al. 2023b).

Performing the task of getting water for domestic use is even more difficult in areas with an environment that has some physical characteristics, such as hilly terrain. In many communities, it is common to find women and children, particularly the young ones, who are forced to carry water over long distances, sometimes balancing the water on their heads to ensure that there is sufficient water for use in different activities, including drinking. Also, men have to go long distances to fetch water, mainly for livestock and, at times, for agriculture. The impacts of climate change aid these circumstances. Recent vulnerabilities of agriculture are characterised by increased casualties of climate change in terms of temperature and decreased production of rainfall (Jain 2007, Thurlow et al. 2009).

The southern part of Zambia has also undergone changes in average annual rainfall (Jain 2007). Moreover, temperature increases have contributed to increased water loss in the region, which heightens the water challenge. As a consequence, there has been increased competition for limited water resources.

Reduced rainfall affects most small-scale farmers who depend on rainfall for agriculture. The intensity and recurrence of drought and drying conditions have made agricultural productivity even more difficult to sustain (IAPRI 2021). For example, the 2023/2024 farming season caused severe losses in crops due to inadequate amounts of rainfall. The drought also affected the standard water availability, whereby most of the streams, rivers and groundwater sources became dry, and others reached their lowest record. This impacted negatively on the ability of people to gain access to clean water for drinking, domestic purposes, food preparation, and the support of agriculture and livestock. This is even more so since vulnerable groups are affected, especially the rural population, who would experience even less access to water.

Addressing these challenges requires an integrated approach, which involves various measures. For example, it may include the development of water infrastructure with the participation of the communities for which such infrastructure is intended. It may also include investing in rainwater harvesting mechanisms to enhance water availability for irrigation. Constructing infrastructure for different purposes, including drinking, domestic purposes, livestock watering, and small-scale irrigation, is essential in building resilience to various challenges related to inadequate access to water at the community level (Mweemba et al. 2023b, OECD 2018, World Bank 2020). In addition, having adequate water storage and distribution channels provides opportunities to have sustained water supply even during drought instances. In addition, having sustainable water and adapting to the impacts of climate change are also important issues that can sustain people’s livelihoods. For example, having water to irrigate crops during periods of droughts or during dry periods of the year can contribute to improving people’s general wellbeing through enhanced food (IWMI 2022).

As the impacts of climate change intensify and increase people’s vulnerabilities, it is important to include approaches within activities intended to reduce the impacts of climate change in community programmes. Addressing the negative impacts on water resources, for example, communities can be supported with the right tools and knowledge to sustain their water resources. Moreover, ensuring that rural communities have adequate water resources is one sure way to support human life for people because this translates to improved health and enhanced economic activities. It is also necessary for attaining sustainable development. It improves the quality of life for current and future generations. This was the goal of developing the solar-powered borehole in Hanzila community in Monze District, Southern Province, Zambia, from February 2023 onwards. This was done in partnership with the ACTION Grant Program together with the Monze District Council in the Southern Province of Zambia and the Ministry of Agriculture, which is the focus of this report.